Old Traditions...New Tradtions..

Traditions.  Something Mike and I have taken to the heart lately.  Like in the past our tradition at thanksgiving is to just show up.  We liked it.  Nobody asked of anything.  But as of late, and maybe cause the kids are getting older, we've been wanting to start some new traditions.  SOO this year we are making a advent wreath and each night we are going to do some scripture readings.

I found a really cool website on how to make your own advent wreath with your kids. Using paper plates, and green, purple, pink, and white construction paper, and yellow paper.  I thought it was a cool thing to try.  So on Black Friday, we are going to have our own "hanging of the greens" in our house.  And then each night we are going to read some scripture that I found on the Focus on the Family website.  The Norman Rockwell moments in my head seem to be bigger than I can pull of in reality. 

I loved the idea of creating new memories in our house.  Ones that the kids will remember.  And in the process learn some more patience.  Hopefully, this coming up Friday, we'll be putting up the christmas tree and decorating it.  Maybe make some cookies and apple cider.  Chili??  Cinnamin Rolls???  Food, Food, and more Food!   I'll keep you posted on how that day actually turns out!

What are some of your traditions this time of the year?  I would love to hear about them!


How to make an advent wreath with your kids:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6657949_making-advent-wreaths-kids.html

WHAT DOES THAT WORD EVEN MEAN??

Accomplish....accompLish....acComplish...Accomplishment...Ablubhulhaant.  What does that word even mean?  Accomplish.  I looked it up.  This is what the dictionary says accomplish means.

Accomplish: achieve something: to carry out or complete something successfully.

Okay, simple enough.  But as I still couldn't grasp my mind around it.  I looked deeper at the meaning of the word, Accomplish.  I came up with a couple of other meanings to this silly word, Accomplish. (I just can't get that word off my mind)

Mommy definition of accomplish.

Accomplish: 1-to wake up 
                   2-make sure the kids and you survive the day with no E.R. visit
                   3-if you get them to bed on time, you've had a successfull day!
                                
                                                              Did I forget anything???

Why am I blogging about this, cause I've been forced to accept defeat.  I thought to accomplish something is to have it be seen. Like seeing the living room floor, or to find out if I may or may not have a counter in the kitchen. Do the kids' toys really need to be everywhere? I mean do we really need clean clothes....okay yes we do, but your getting the jist of it.  I spent most of my weekend recovering from the week of sickness in the household.  Not the kids, but Mike and me.  I picked up the living room,  then started in the kitchen.  Turned around and the living room is right where it started, a big mess. Probably worse than the first time. 
 "Fine, okay, breath, it's just some covers and some small toys. I can do this. CCCHHARGE!" I tell myself.
After alittle time goes by, I'm done and smile. Okay back to the kitchen.  I start on a load of dishes and turn around and there it is...the living room....worse than before.
"Where are those little....Mason, Anna, Nick...what in the world are you doing...and how are you doing it so quite?  Pick up the living room!  Now." ---See that...right there. I'm starting to loose it.  I've been told I have no patience. It's gotten better, but not by much.  That's pretty much how the day went, but with each time I began to wear down, falling more and more into a pit of "am I ever going to get ahead" game.
By the end of the day, I was just besides myself.  Upset, frusterated, irritated, just had it up to here (I'm placing my hand over my head, if you wanted a visual).  
Where does this get me, I don't know.  But I reminded myself last night over and over that God gave me these little rascals to raise with my wonderful hubby.  That's the most important part, right?!?!  As much as I would love to have a house that is clean, clothes that are not piled to the ceiling, or even dishes that we don't have to spit shine to use (just kidding really, I would never do that!)  I know, and have to remind myself ever day that these moments are just that, moments.  And when I get older I don't want to look back remembering the house, I want to remember the fun in that house with the people that I love.   That will be the ultimite accomplishment!

Crazy Life: Influence's of my life....

Crazy Life: Influence's of my life....: " Awhile back I was reading a book by Lisa Harper called, 'Untamed Heart' and in there she asked, 'Who do you look up to? Who are your hero'..."

Influence's of my life....

 Awhile back I was reading a book by Lisa Harper called, "Untamed Heart" and in there she asked, "Who do you look up to?  Who are your hero's?"  I first started thinking of all the people who have influenced me...by thinking of those I grew up watching.  Number one being, Lucille Ball from "I Love Lucy."  I loved her.  My mom loved her.  We would sit up forever and watch her when I was a kid.  Then I started thinking of another person on t.v.  Bill Cosby....I love him!  I watched his show all the time.  My mom would play his stand up show, "Bill Cosby, Himself"  all the time.  We would laugh and laugh and laugh.  Watching him talk about his life growing up and his life with his own family.  I remember seeing mom laughing saying, "That's soo true.  That's how it used to be.  I remember that!"  Then again another television person, Julia Andrews.  I remember when I was old enough to go to Grandma and Grandpa Van Heuvelen's house and Grandpa would go golfing and I would sit there with Grandma, watching "The Sound of Music."  She would close her eye's and just listen to Julia Andrew's sing with her beautiful voice, some of the most amazing songs.  After I got the t.v. people out of the way...and believe me there was many, many more people I could have listed.  I started to look at why I loved them and how they came to be a part of my childhood.  I look at the obvious...My Grandma Dorothy (Skaar) Van Heuvelen and my mom Connee (Van Heuvelen) Jenness.  These women have taught me so much about life that I couldn't believe that they weren't the first one's that came to my mind.  Instead, the first thing that came to me was people they loved and showed my why they loved them.

 This is my Grandma Dorothy.  I stumbled over these pictures of her when I was going through old pictures looking for baby pictures of my dad.  When I saw this I just loved it.  This, this is what I remember of her.  Her smile, you can see the life that's in her eyes.  Then when I was scanning the picture, I turned it over and saw writing on the back.  It said, "Laugh, cause you look crazy."  That was her.  She laughed about everything and about nothing.  She loved, and was loved by everyone around her.  It took alot to get this women down!  With a life long disease, she taught me not to let the small stuff get you.  She showed me that there is good in everyone.  She was an amazing women!
My most favorite memory of her was when she was at my sister Steph's wedding and her hearing was terrible, her talking was loud!  She kept talking and talking during the whole wedding.  Finally my Grandpa couldn't handle it anymore and started to shush her.  My Grandma, being the strong minded, strong heart women that she is yelled (and I mean yelled) "Don't shush me Bert." During the middle of the vows. Grandpa shot straight up from his seat and wheeled her out.  I'm honored that some people say I look like her.  But I don't think I ever will capture her beauty and grace.

This is my mom.  I love her!  She is another amazing women I have been blessed to know. I mean look at her, the smile, the laugh, the joy of life is just oozing from her. She is a phenomenal women.  Even though she'll disagree with everything I say about her....she is the most influential women in my life!   Mother of 11 children, grandmother of 17 children, and a loving wife. She has taught me more than I can even begin to tell.

All she ever wanted was to have a large family.  She has had a hard road but she's taken it head on and has come out on top.  She's a warrior like non other!  The women I am today started with her.  My Grandma may have been the one who planted the seed of who I wanted to become; but it was my mother who was there for every tear, every scrap, every high and every low.  She's my mom.  She has taught me to laugh....laugh...and laugh, how to cook for a crowd, and how to love fiercely.
My most favorite story was when she backed into Dad's pickup and Dad did his jumping up and down screaming bit.  She locked all the doors and wouldn't come out of the car until Dad calmed down.  Dad kept knocking on the window saying, "Connee, I'm not mad anymore, just open up the car."  Mom would reply, "No, no you will just yell at me."  I think I was in the car with her for about and hour or so until she finally unlocked the car and got out.  I guess the funniest part was watching Dad.

LOVE YOU MOM!

Crazy Life: HIP PADDERS!!

Crazy Life: HIP PADDERS!!: "The word is out and I can't help myself but to answer it. 'Hip Padders' is the name of on everyones lips! I'm telling you, it's going to c..."

HIP PADDERS!!

The word is out and I can't help myself but to answer it.  "Hip Padders" is the name of on everyones lips!  I'm telling you, it's going to change your life.  Okay so maybe not that big of a deal...but I've had some of you ask about the bar known as "Hip Padders." 

I got this recipe out of the new Carmel Reformed Church Cookbook. If you don't have, find a local Rock Valleyian, Carmel Reformed Church goer and get it from them! It's become a must have in my library of cookbooks!

Okay moment of truth....and a couple of added pounds...The recipie of "Hip Padders!"  (There is a reason for the name!)

Hip Padders

Melt:
2T. Butter
6oz. chocolate chips

add and set aside:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1tsp. vanilla

Crumb mixture:
Mix and press 2/3 of mixture in a 9x13 inch pan:
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2cup butter
1 egg.....take it out back and beat the crap out of it.....or get a bowl and use a fork and beat it, either way it needs to be beaten!
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Pour chocolate mixture over crumb mixture.  Crumble remaining crumb mix and add 1/2 cup nuts, (optional) Sprinkle on Chocolate mixture.  Bake 10 to 25 minutes. at 350*  Let it cool for a bit and eat, eat, eat!  Then run, run, squat, lung, row, swim, kayak, climb a mountain, whatever cause it's going be too addicting to stop!  I would post a picture of the bars but too late, they are gone!

Have fun...Enjoy!

Crazy Life: It's a battlefield out there

Crazy Life: It's a battlefield out there: "It's 7:00am in the morning, my alarm clock is going off for the 3 hundredth time, and I have to get up and face whatever life is going to th..."